Storage array assist architecture

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a storage system architecture. An Environmental service module (ESM) is coupled to one or more array controllers. The ESM is configured with a central processing unit and one or more assist functions. The assist functions may include nonvolatile memory. This nonvolatile memory may be used for write caching, mirroring data, and/or configuration data. The assist functions, or the ESM, may be controlled by the array controllers using SCSI or RDMA commands.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 12/481,303, entitled “Storage Array AssistArchitecture,” filed on Jun. 9, 2009, the entirety of this disclosure ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mass storage systems continue to provide increased storage capacities tosatisfy user demands. Photo and movie storage, and photo and moviesharing are examples of applications that fuel the growth in demand forlarger and larger storage systems.

A solution to these increasing demands is the use of arrays of multipleinexpensive disks. These arrays may be configured in ways that provideredundancy and error recovery without any loss of data. These arrays mayalso be configured to increase read and write performance by allowingdata to be read or written simultaneously to multiple disk drives. Thesearrays may also be configured to allow “hot-swapping” which allows afailed disk to be replaced without interrupting the storage services ofthe array. Whether or not any redundancy is provided, these arrays arecommonly referred to as redundant arrays of independent disks (or morecommonly by the acronym RAID). The 1987 publication by David A.Patterson, et al., from the University of California at Berkeley titled“A Case for Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)” discusses thefundamental concepts and levels of RAID technology.

RAID storage systems typically utilize a controller that shields theuser or host system from the details of managing the storage array. Thecontroller makes the storage array appear as one or more disk drives (orvolumes). This is accomplished in spite of the fact that the data (orredundant data) for a particular volume may be spread across multipledisk drives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention may therefore comprise an offloadenvironmental service module (ESM), comprising: an input/outputcontroller (IOC) configured as a serial attached SCSI (SAS) target; theIOC comprising a CPU and a non-volatile memory and configured to performat least one offloaded array controller function; and, an SAS expander.

An embodiment of the invention may therefore further comprise a storagesystem, comprising: an array controller; a JBOD unit comprising an IOCincluding a CPU and a non-volatile memory, the IOC configured to performat least one offloaded array controller function; and, an SAS expander.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a storage array assist unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a storage array assist architecture.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a storage array assist unit. Storage arraysystem 100 comprises offload just a bunch of disks (JBOD) unit 120,array controllers (not shown), and additional JBOD units (not shown). InFIG. 1, offload JBOD unit 120 may be coupled to multiple arraycontrollers via serial attached SCSI (SAS) ports. Offload JBOD unit 120may be coupled to additional JBOD units by SAS ports. Offload JBOD units120 may include disk drives.

Offload JBOD unit 120 includes offload environmental service module(ESM) 140 and offload ESM 141. Offload ESM 140 comprises input/outputcontroller (IOC) 150, nonvolatile memory (NV memory) 160, SAS expander(SE) 190, and assist functions 180-1, 180-2. IOC 150 may include CPU170. Offload ESM 141 comprises IOC 151, nonvolatile memory 161, SASexpander 191, and assist functions 181-1, 181-2. IOC 151 may include CPU171. Offload ESM 140 and offload ESM 141 may be coupled by link 121 sothat they may exchange data. Offload ESM 140 and offload ESM 141 provideexpander and environmental services monitoring and management functions.Assist functions 180-1 and 180-2 may be collectively referred to hereinas assist function(s) 180. Assist functions 181-1 and 181-2 may becollectively referred to herein as assist function(s) 181.

In an embodiment, offload ESM 140 and offload ESM 141 may include assistfunctions 180-1, 180-2, 181-1 and 181-2 that may include parity and ECCgeneration, battery backed data memory, NVRAM, and inter-controllerwrite caching. These assist functions may be performed by dedicatedhardware, additional processors, software, or a combination of hardwareand software. For example, NV memory 160 and NV memory 161 may allow fornonvolatile caching of write data. This data may be mirrored between NVmemory 160 and NV memory 161, thus providing for redundant storage ofthis cached data. NV memory 160 and NV memory 161 may provide commit todisk capability.

The special assist functions of offload JBOD 120 may be leveraged bydata protection layer (DPL) software. DPL software may be run on thearray controllers. The assist functionality may be implemented byconfiguring IOC 150 and IC 151 as SAS targets. Embedded CPUs 170 and171, or embedded CPU's in assist functions 180 and 181 may provideprocessing capability. NV Memories 160 and 161 can provide storage thatsurvives power failures, system shutdowns, etc. NV memories 160 and 161may be flash, battery backed memory, or the like. Note that IOC 150,embedded CPU 170, and SAS expander 190 may be incorporated in the sameASIC. Likewise, IOC 151, embedded CPU 171, and SAS expander 191 may beincorporated in the same ASIC.

Storage array system 100 may contain nonvolatile memory, such as NVmemory 160 and NV memory 161, in order to perform write cache I/Oprocessing. Write cache I/O processing ensures that data will bepreserved in the event of a power failure or I/O disruption. In storagearray system 100, write data may be written by the array controller toNV memory 160 or 161 in offload JBOD unit 120 using, for example, SCSIand/or RDMA commands. Once the data is written to NV memory 160 or 161,the data would be considered persistent and an array controller would beable to return this status to the host. Offload ESM 140 or 141 mayimplement a forked write capability that writes the data to NV memory160 or 161, respectively, as well as duplicating the data and sending itto the other offload ESM's NV memory 161 or 160, respectively. Thiswrite data may be exchanged between offload ESMs 140 and 141 via link121. Link 121 may be, for example, an SAS, PCIe, or Infinibandconnection. Other types of links are contemplated.

Storage array system 100 may mirror write cached data to multipleoffload ESMs 140-141 to ensure that data persists through the failure ofthe storage array controller, offload ESM, offload JBOD, or anycombination thereof. In such an event, an alternate controller, JBOD, oroffload ESM is able to reclaim the data that was mirrored to it as partof the redundancy failover mechanism.

In an embodiment, offload JBOD unit 120 may be used by an arraycontroller to create a mirror of the data to a second NV memory 160 or161. This NV memory 160 or 161 may either be in the other offload ESM140 or 141 in the same offload JBOD unit 120, or in another offload JBODunit in the system (not shown). In another embodiment, NV memory 160 and161 in offload JBOD unit 120 may be used to mirror of the memory in thearray controller itself.

NV memory 160 or 161 may also be used to store configuration metadatathat describes how storage array system 100 should be configured duringinitialization. This may speed the power on sequence or indicatespecific operating environments (for example, host type, defaultsettings, etc.).

When a storage array controller is ready to commit write back cacheddata to disk, offload JBOD 120 may be issued a special command thatinstructs CPU 170 or 171 to transfer write back cached data stored inthe NV memory 160 or 161 to the appropriate disk location in the SASdomain. The offload ESM 140 or 141 receiving this command may receivethe memory address of the data, the I/O device (e.g., magnetic disk orsolid state disk), the LBA to be written to, and the length of the datato be written. Once the command has been received, the offload ESM 140or 141 may issue the appropriate SCSI or SATA command to the I/O device.Once status has been received confirming the I/O device has completedthe operation, the offload ESM 140 or 141 may mark the write back cacheddata as no longer dirty, and return status to the storage arraycontroller.

In another embodiment, offload ESM 140 or 141 may be used as a targetdevice that presents a single target for the disks in offload JBOD unit120, and the other JBODs in the same SAS domain, as logical unit numbers(LUNs) to the storage array controller. This may speed the discovery ofthe storage array controller during many power on and reset conditions.

Assist functions 180 and 181 may provide a hardware and/or softwarefunction that assists in calculating redundant data for implementingRAID techniques across disk drives. Assist functions 180 and 181 mayprovide a hardware and/or software function that assists in performingregular expression searching. This regular expression searching may beused for such functions as deep packet inspection (DPI) or virussignature recognition. Assist functions 180 and 181 may provide ahardware and/or software function that assists in calculating a hashfunction to assist with de-duplication. Assist function 180 and 181 mayprovide XOR, ECC, compression functions. Assist functions 180 and 181may provide other a hardware and/or software functions.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a storage array hardware assistarchitecture. In FIG. 2, storage array system 200 comprises offload JBODunit 220, array controller enclosure 210, and additional JBOD unit 221.Offload JBOD unit 220 may also be known as an environmental servicemodule (ESM). In FIG. 2, offload JBOD unit 220 may be coupled tomultiple array controllers via SAS ports. Offload JBOD unit 220 may becoupled to JBOD unit 221 by SAS ports. Offload JBOD unit 220 and JBODunit 221 may include disk drives. Array controller enclosure 210 oroffload JBOD unit 220 may include one or more SAS expanders.

Array controller enclosure 210 may include multiple array controllers230-231. Each of these array controllers 230-231 may be coupled tooffload JBOD unit 220. Array controllers 230-231 may be coupled tooffload ESMs 240-241 in offload JBOD unit 220 via one or more SAS ports.

Offload JBOD unit 220 includes offload ESM 240 and offload ESM 241.Offload ESM 240 comprises IOC 250, assist function 260-1, and assistfunction 260-2. Offload ESM 240 comprises IOC 250, assist function261-1, and assist function 261-2. Offload ESM 240 and offload ESM 241may be coupled by link 243 so that they may exchange data andinformation. Assist functions 260-1 and 260-2 may be collectivelyreferred to herein as assist function(s) 260. Assist functions 261-1 and261-2 may be collectively referred to herein as assist function(s) 261.

In an embodiment, offload ESM 240 and offload ESM 241 may include assistfunctions 260-261 that may include parity and ECC generation, batterybacked data memory, NVRAM, and inter-controller write caching. Theseassist functions may be performed by dedicated hardware, additionalprocessors, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Forexample, assist function 260-1 may include NV memory. This NV memory mayallow for nonvolatile caching of write data. This data may be mirroredbetween offload ESM 240 and 241, thus providing for redundant storage ofthis cached data.

The special assist functions 260-261 of offload JBOD 220 may beleveraged by data protection layer (DPL) software. This functionalitymay be implemented by configuring IOC 250 and IOC 251 as SAS targets. Inaddition, IOCs 250 and 251 may provide processing capability. NVmemories in assist functions 260-261 can provide storage that survivespower failures, system shutdowns, etc.

Array controllers 230 and 231 may contain nonvolatile memory in order toperform write cache I/O processing. This may ensure that data will bepreserved in the event of a power failure or I/O disruption. In storagearray system 200, write data may be written by array controller 230 or231 to assist functions 260-261 in offload JBOD unit 220 using, forexample, SCSI and/or RDMA commands. Once the data is written to anassist function 260-261 in offload JBOD unit 220, the data may beconsidered persistent. Thus, array controller 230 or 231 may be able toreturn status for the I/O to the host. Offload ESM 240 or 241 mayimplement a forked write capability that writes the data to an assistfunction 260, as well as duplicating the data and sending it to NVmemory in the other offload ESM 241. This write data may be exchangedbetween offload ESMs 240 and 241 via link 243. Link 243 may be, forexample, an SAS, PCIe, or Infiniband connection. Other types of linksare contemplated.

Storage array system 200 may mirror write cached data to arraycontroller 230 and array controller 231 to ensure that data persiststhrough the failure of an array controller 230 or 231. In such an event,the alternate controller is able to reclaim the data that was mirroredto it as part of the redundancy failover mechanism when the firstcontroller fails.

In an embodiment, offload JBOD unit 220 may be used by an arraycontroller 230 or 231 to create a mirror of the data to an NV memory inan assist function 260-261. This NV memory may either be in the otheroffload ESM 240 or 241 in the same offload JBOD unit 220, or anotheroffload JBOD unit in the system (not shown). In another embodiment,offload JBOD unit 220 may be used as a mirror of the memory in the arraycontroller 230 or 231 itself.

Assist function 260-261 may also be used for configuration metadata thatdescribes how storage array system 200 should be configured duringinitialization. This may speed the power on sequence or indicatespecific operating environments (for example, host type, defaultsettings, etc.).

When a storage array controller 230 or 231 is ready to commit write backcached data to disk, offload JBOD unit 220 may be issued a specialcommand that instructs it to transfer write back cached data stored inan assist function 260-261 to an appropriate disk in the SAS domain. Theoffload ESM 240 or 241 receiving this command may receive the memoryaddress of the data, the I/O device (magnetic disk or solid state disk),the LBA to be written to, and the length of the data to be written. Oncethe command has been received, the offload ESM 240 or 241 may issue theappropriate SCSI or SATA command to the I/O device. Once status has beenreceived confirming the I/O device has completed the operation, theoffload ESM 240 or 241 may mark the write back cached data as no longerdirty, and return status to the array controller 230 or 231.

In another embodiment, offload ESM 240 or 241 may be used as a targetdevice that presents a single target for the disks in offload JBOD unit220, and the other JBODs in the same SAS domain, as LUNs to the storagearray controller. This may speed in discovery of the storage arraycontroller during many power on and reset conditions.

Assist functions 180 and 181 may provide a hardware and/or softwarefunction that assists in calculating redundant data for implementingRAID techniques across disk drives. Assist functions 260 and 261 mayprovide a hardware and/or software function that assists in performingregular expression searching. This regular expression searching may beused for such functions as deep packet inspection (DPI) or virussignature recognition. Assist functions 260 and 261 may provide ahardware and/or software function that assists in calculating a hashfunction to assist with de-duplication. Assist functions 260 and 261 mayprovide XOR, ECC, compression functions. Assist functions 260 and 261may provide other a hardware and/or software functions.

The systems, units, drives, devices, equipment, and functions describedabove may be implemented with or executed by one or more computersystems. The methods described above may also be stored on a computerreadable medium. Many of the elements of storage array system 100, andstorage array system 200 may be, comprise, or include computers systems.This includes, but is not limited to, offload JBOD 120, offload ESM 140,offload ESM 141, IOC 150, IOC 151, CPU 170, CPU 171, SAS expander 190,SAS expander 191, assist functions 180-1, 180-2, 181-1, 181-2, arraycontroller 230, array controller 231, offload JBOD unit 220, JBOD unit221, offload ESM 240, offload ESM 241, IOC 250, IOC 251, assistfunctions 260-261, and any disk drives encompassed in storage arraysystem 100 or storage array system 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system. Computer system300 includes communication interface 320, processing system 330, storagesystem 340, and user interface 360. Processing system 330 is operativelycoupled to storage system 340. Storage system 340 stores software 350and data 370. Processing system 330 is operatively coupled tocommunication interface 320 and user interface 360. Computer system 300may comprise a programmed general-purpose computer. Computer system 300may include a microprocessor. Computer system 300 may compriseprogrammable or special purpose circuitry. Computer system 300 may bedistributed among multiple devices, processors, storage, and/orinterfaces that together comprise elements 320-370.

Communication interface 320 may comprise a network interface, modem,port, bus, link, transceiver, or other communication device.Communication interface 320 may be distributed among multiplecommunication devices. Processing system 330 may comprise amicroprocessor, microcontroller, logic circuit, or other processingdevice. Processing system 330 may be distributed among multipleprocessing devices. User interface 360 may comprise a keyboard, mouse,voice recognition interface, microphone and speakers, graphical display,touch screen, or other type of user interface device. User interface 360may be distributed among multiple interface devices. Storage system 340may comprise a disk, tape, integrated circuit, RAM, ROM, networkstorage, server, or other memory function. Storage system 340 may be acomputer readable medium. Storage system 340 may be distributed amongmultiple memory devices.

Processing system 330 retrieves and executes software 350 from storagesystem 340. Processing system may retrieve and store data 370.Processing system may also retrieve and store data via communicationinterface 320. Processing system 350 may create or modify software 350or data 370 to achieve a tangible result. Processing system may controlcommunication interface 320 or user interface 370 to achieve a tangibleresult. Processing system may retrieve and execute remotely storedsoftware via communication interface 320.

Software 350 and remotely stored software may comprise an operatingsystem, utilities, drivers, networking software, and other softwaretypically executed by a computer system. Software 350 may comprise anapplication program, applet, firmware, or other form of machine-readableprocessing instructions typically executed by a computer system. Whenexecuted by processing system 330, software 350 or remotely storedsoftware may direct computer system 300 to operate as described herein.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andother modifications and variations may be possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims beconstrued to include other alternative embodiments of the inventionexcept insofar as limited by the prior art.

1. A storage system comprising: a storage array controller; and a firstoffload environmental service module (ESM) in communication with, andseparate from, the storage array controller, the first offload ESMhaving an input/output controller (IOC) configured as a target, the IOCconfigured to operatively communicate with the storage array controller,further wherein the IOC is configured to perform at least one functionof the storage array controller that has been offloaded from the storagearray controller to the first offload ESM; wherein the first offload ESMis in communication with a second offload ESM that is separate from thestorage array controller; the first offload ESM including non-volatilememory, where the first offload ESM is configured to create a mirror ofdata in the second offload ESM, further wherein the first offload ESMprovides environmental services monitoring and management functions forthe storage system.
 2. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one offloaded array controller function comprises write cacheinput/output (I/O) processing.
 3. The storage system of claim 2, whereinwrite data is received by the first offload ESM via SCSI commands. 4.The storage system of claim 2, wherein write data is received by thefirst offload ESM via Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) commands. 5.The storage system of claim 1, wherein the first offload ESM storesconfiguration information in the non-volatile memory.
 6. The storagesystem of claim 5, wherein the configuration information describes aninitialization configuration for the storage system to speed a power onsequence.
 7. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the first offloadESM stores and tracks data to be written and confirms I/O devicescomplete write operations.
 8. A storage system comprising: a storagearray controller; and an enclosure with an array of storage drives, theenclosure being separate from an enclosure of the storage arraycontroller, the enclosure comprising: a first offload environmentalservice module (ESM) in communication with, and separate from, thestorage array controller, the first offload ESM having an input/outputcontroller (IOC) configured to operatively communicate with the storagearray controller, further wherein the IOC is configured to perform atleast one function of the storage array controller that has beenoffloaded from the storage array controller to the first offload ESM;wherein the first offload ESM is configured to create a mirror of datain a second offload ESM, further wherein the first offload ESM providesenvironmental services monitoring and management functions for thestorage system.
 9. The storage system of claim 8, wherein the IOCrepresents multiple devices in an SAS domain.
 10. The storage system ofclaim 8, wherein the IOC performs write cache input/output (I/O)processing.
 11. The storage system of claim 10, wherein the IOC receiveswrite data via SCSI commands.
 12. The storage system of claim 10,wherein the IOC receives write data via Remote Direct Memory Access(RDMA) commands.
 13. The storage system of claim 8, wherein the IOCstores configuration information in the non-volatile memory.
 14. Thestorage system of claim 8, wherein the IOC stores and tracks data to bewritten and confirms I/O devices complete write operations.
 15. Acomputer system comprising: a first Environmental Service Module (ESM)in communication with, and separate from, a storage array controller ofthe computer system; and a second ESM in communication with, andseparate from, the storage array controller, wherein the first andsecond ESMs are in communication with each other, and wherein the firstand second offload ESMs provide environmental services monitoring andmanagement functions for the computer system, further wherein the firstESM is configured to create a mirror of data in the storage controllerand also configured to create a mirror of data in the second ESM. 16.The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first and second ESMs areincluded in a same enclosure.
 17. The computer system of claim 16,wherein the enclosure comprises a Just a Bunch of Disks (JBOD)enclosure.
 18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first ESMcomprises non-volatile memory storing configuration metadata thatdescribes an initialization configuration for the computer system tospeed a power on sequence.
 19. The computer system of claim 15, whereineach of the first and second ESM comprises: an input/output controllerconfigured as a serial attached SCSI (SAS) target.
 20. The computersystem of claim 15, wherein the first ESM is configured to perform writecache input/output (I/O) processing as an offloaded function of thestorage array controller.